Hi there, I intend to study civil engineering next year. Being a girl, I would like to have a family sometime after uni, and I've heard from many forums that engineering has long work hours which can impede on one having a comfortable home life and starting a family, where looking after children after work can become a problem where you come home late. This is one of the biggest issues that really scares me from the civil engineering degree although I am interested in it. Thank you in advance :)

Related to Civil, Opportunities/Challenges for Women, Work Environment

Hi Mary - My advise to you, is one step at a time. It is true, some engineers in some jobs work very long hours. However, some do not, that is choice you can make for yourself when you are looking for a job. I know women who work 32 hours a week and never more so that they can have time at home with their children. I myself often take two hour lunches to get things done and make up time when I can.
So my advise to you is that if are interested in civil engineering do it. Find a job you like and work hard. Then take one step at a time, find a partner to have kids with, take about the fact that maybe your partner want to stay home full time, or talk to your company about an abbreviated schedule, or find a job with flexible hours, or stay home full time. You get to make these choices, but don't skip out on a career you like, because of things that might happen in the future.
Good Luck!
~Amelia

The 2018 EngineerGirl Writing Contest

Also, don't forget to look for our EngineerGirl booth at Invent It. Build It.(IIBI) IIBI is a hands-on engineering experience for girls in grades 6-12, and their families. Join 10,000 women engineers from around the globe in Austin, TX on Saturday, October 28th to prove that girls can be engineers!